Festivals and Rituals

The Newari tradition and culture is almost like an ocean.Newari culture is very rich in pageantry and ritual throughout the year. Many festivals are tied to hindu holidays, buddha's birth and the harvest cycle. The important Newari festivals are "Mha Puja" , celebrated in the occasion of the New year, during the festival of Tihar as per local calendar (Nepal Sambat), Bisket Jatra celebrated on the first of Baisakh and many more. One of the important festival celebrated by Newari people is Gunhu Punhi. During this nine-day festival, Newari men and women drink a bowl of sprouted mixed cereals and offer food to frogs in the farmers' fields. On the second day, Sa Paru (Gai Jatra), people who have lost a family member in the past year dress up as cows or anything comical and parade through town, a ritual carried by a king to show his queen, who was hurted by loss of her own child that not only his son has died but other peoples died too. The last day of Gunhu Punhi is Krishnastami, birthday of lord Krishna, an incarnation of lord Vishnu.Yanya Punhi (Indra Jatra) is a holiday related to Hindu god king of heaven, Indra. The festival begins with the carnival-like erection of Yosin, a ceremonial pole, accompanied by the rare display of the deity Aakash Bhairab, represented by a massive mask spouting beer and liquor. Households throughout Kathmandu display images and sculptures of Indra and Bhairab only at this time of year. Finally, the Kumari, or virgin goddess (living goddess), leaves the seclusion of her temple in a palanquin and leads a procession through the streets of Kathmandu to thank Indra the rain god. And there is an occasion in Tihar where people worship themselves know as Mha Puja (self-worship) in which people eat good food and wear good clothes, this day is also the newari new year or Nepal Sambhat in which a rally takes place where people go around town in motorcycles, busses and huge celebration. It is another emerging rituals that even young people take it deep.Many rituals are related to the stages of life stages from birth, first rice-feeding, childhood, puberty, marriage, seniority and death. The complexity and all-encompassing nature of these rituals cannot be exaggerated. For instance, Newari girls undergo a Bahra ceremony when they reach menarche. Because menstruation is considered ritually impure, girls undergo ritual confinement for 12 days. Girls are separated from all males and from sunlight for 12 days while they are doted upon by female relatives. On 12th day the girl must pay homage to the sun.Should a Newar man or women live long enough, there are five rituals, known as "janku,"—which can be confusing, as the first rice feeding ceremony is referred to as "janku" as well—performed between the age of 77 and 106. These at the age 77 years, 7 months, 7 days; 83 years, 4 months, 4 days (after one has seen 1000 full moons in one's life); 88 years, 8 months, 8 days; 99 years, 9 months, 9 days; and, finally, at 105 years, 8 months, 8 days. After these rituals are performed, the person will be regarded as a god. Husband and wife will perform their rituals together, as the events occur for the husband.Afterwards, the full complement of life cycle rituals will have been completed, until the death ceremony.

Newar

 The Newars are one of the oldest indigenous nationalities of Nepal. The geographical area of the Nepal Mandal being their mainland, Newars have, spread over almost all districts of Nepal. Wherever they are, they have organized in different forms for the welfare of the community. Newa Dey Daboo(NDD) is a national level Federal body represented by different local level individual organizations of the Newars. It was constituted by a two-day National Convention held in Kathmandu on 7th and 8th of Yanlathwa 1115 Nepal Era (1st and 2nd September 1995).    A national level organization of the Newars, with their own distinct art, culture, language, literature tradition and festivals was felt need not only for the welfare of the community but also the national pride. Newa Dey Daboo was formed to unite all Newars in the task of national building by uplifting their art, culture, language, literature and heritage.Newar organizations of different nature, ranging from highly academic institution like Nepal Bhasa Academy to a school like Jagat Sundar Bwanekuthi, [ a lower secondary school ] where the medium of instruction is Nepal Bhasa, the mother tongue of the Newars, are institutional members of the Newa Dey Daboo, duly registered at Kathmandu District Office . As Newars are composed of different castes and creeds , the membership includes different caste based organizations ranging from Vedic Academy of Brahmins to Dyola Samaj of Dyolas. Also, Newa Dey Daboo has an official relationship with Newar Organizations of USA, India, UK and Japan.      New Dey Daboo, a common forum of different independent Newar organizations, held it's fifth convention on 11th & 12th of Chaulaga, 1129 Nepal Era (20th and 21st March, 2009) and the Fifth Executive Committee was formed accordingly.In 2003, NDD commenced to hold the political issues and the issues of rights of Indigenous peoples on the ground of IPs rights declared by the UDHR and ILO 169. In 2005 and 2006 acomplished two different political assembly with Kathmandu Declaration on Socio- political agenda. Since then, It's been launching various programs and also has been playing vital role in advocacy, campaigns and movements as to ensure inclusive and proportionate participation in all sects and levels of government and state policy.At present NDD has been involved extensively into movements and campaigns, dialogues and interactions  and media mobilizations on state restructuring, peace building and Constitution making process as well as  socio- cultural rights.